Summary
24 May 2010
Sarah Ferguson has been keeping a low profile while visiting Hollywood after a newspaper secretly filmed her trying to sell access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
Reporter:
Rajesh Mirchandani
Listen
Click to hear the report:
Report
She's not normally camera-shy but a tired-looking Sarah Ferguson avoided reporters on her arrival at Los Angeles airport. And again later when she was due to be the star of a Hollywood red-carpet event, honoured by a childrens' charity for her humanitarian work. But her efforts to help others have been overshadowed by her attempts to help herself and Ms Ferguson sneaked in to collect her award.
She has said she's sorry after a newspaper secretly filmed her offering access to Prince Andrew for half a million pounds. There's no suggestion he knew of her plan.
In the past Sarah Ferguson has been an author, TV presenter and film producer. But her media company recently collapsed with large debts. She admitted money problems but said they were no excuse for a serious lapse in judgement. This attempted deal, though not illegal, may have gone too far.
Rajesh Mirchandani, 大象传媒 News, Los Angeles
Listen
Click to hear the vocabulary:
Vocabulary
- camera-shy
someone who doesn't want photographers to take photographs of her
- red-carpet event
an occasion when a long, red floor covering is put down for important guests to walk on when they visit somewhere and receive a special official welcome or a special prize
- humanitarian work
projects which benefit people who are poor, sick, suffering or in need of help
- overshadowed by
seen to be less important than something else
- to help herself
to look after her own needs and desires (before considering the needs of others)
- sneaked in
entered a building in a secretive way, in a way that would not attract attention
- collapsed with large debts
failed and owed a lot of money
- admitted money problems
said that she had difficulties because she didn't have enough money
- a serious lapse in judgement
making a very bad decision
- have gone too far
have behaved in a way that upsets or annoys people
